Friday, April 10, 2009

Do the Math by Jocelyn Saint James

Do the Math by Jocelyn Saint JamesPublisher: The Wild Rose PressGenre: ContemporaryLength: Full (264 pages)Heat: SweetRating: 4 booksReviewed by Snapdragon

Middle age is anything but boring for Christie Myers, high school math teacher. Suddenly alone and pregnant with her ex-husband's baby, she finds herself caretaker to her ornery mother-in-law and mentor to a streetwise teen. With her job on the line and life sinking lower than ever, she's introduced to traveling musician Greg O'Connell, who agrees to pose as her husband in exchange for a place to stay. He never imagined that renting a room would change the course of his life and connect him with the past. The arrangement leaves Christie and Greg both understanding that music and math can be a wonderful combination.

Jocelyn Saint James’ new work, Do the Math, is every bit as clever as the title suggests.

Christie Meyers take on reality starts off pretty negative, even if she is at a party. This whole work is something of emotional ‘chiller.’ We join Christie Meyers already struggling with an impending divorce. It’s a stiff, business-like affair on the face of it, though an emotional downer for Christie; and something of the classic, ‘left for younger woman’ event.

A teacher in a Catholic High School for girls, Christie’s in the midst of the ‘debacle’ of this relationship when she meets Greg, in her best friend’s kitchen. Thoughtful, (and handsome of course!) Greg seems too good to be true… and with everything else on her mind, Christie doesn’t give much thought to him, beyond enjoying their brief chat. However, Greg becomes the one rock in her life of turmoil (from morning sickness to the brief re-visits from Phil, who really, we all just want to move past and forget…)

Do the Math is plausible, but with a less than admirable main character. Christie seems unhappily un-self reliant. It would be an un-admirable trait in someone half her age, and sadly, although she does have numerous super qualities, (and so does this story as a whole,) my own impatience with the main character rather overshadowed all. Her moments of joy are just too few and far between.

The writing style is imminently readable, the background unobtrusive, friend Sarah and others are believably multifaceted; Greg is delicious, several students, especially Lainie, give true depth to Christie’s life. However, the star character honestly is the ex-mother-in-law Margaret, who’s snappy opinion and stern backbone make her exceptionally worthy of memory. If Margaret had been the main character, there would have been more sparks than tears!

This work will provoke emotions – good and bad – in any reader. It’s a work that looks at a dark side, but perhaps, takes overlong to locate joy.

RATING EXPLANATION:

1 Star— At this time, we at LASR do not post these reviews. If the book was boring, badly edited, poorly written, had little or no plot, stilted dialogue, and/or unsympathetic characters, we will decline the review.

2 Stars— Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you'd re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library - not buy - and never check out again.

3 Stars— Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars— Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars— Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book - For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you're not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise - and reserved for only a few.

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